Young people using residential child care services across Scotland can now find out more about the standards of practice set for all social services workers through an innovative approach developed by young people in Dundee and Glasgow. 

C.O.D.Y. was developed to make sure that children and young people in residential child care in Scotland understand what the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) Code of Practice for Social Service Workers means to them and the people who work with them.

The project is a partnership by the SSSC, the regulator for the workforce in Scotland, and Who Cares? Scotland, the national advocacy organisation for young people in care.  It aims to raise awareness of the Code, increasing confidence in the workforce among young people in care and provide young people with resources that they and others can relate to and understand.

Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of the SSSC said today:

"This has been a great project and the children and young people and Who Cares? Scotland workers involved have all worked really hard, using their own experiences, to create resources that help to raise awareness of the SSSC Code of Practice among their peers. Well skilled, confident staff make all the difference to their experiences of social work and care services. It is vital that people who use social services know that everyone who works with them has a set of standards to work to and what this means for them."

Heather Gray, Chief Executive of Who Cares? Scotland said:

"We've really enjoyed working on the project together, developing the videos and other activities including features and photo stories in our magazine Speak Out! It's given the young people involved a chance to find out more about the work of the SSSC as well as helping them to understand the Code of Practice and relate it to the drive to raise standards of practice in care services."

C.O.D.Y. learning resources are available on the official C.O.D.Y. website: www.sssc.uk.com/cody